Investigation on preparation and mechanical properties of W-Cu-Zn alloy with low W-W contiguity and high ductility

In order to improve the mechanical properties of the W-Cu alloy, the W-Cu-Zn alloys with low W-W contiguity were fabricated by three different preparation methods. For the first method, the mixed powder of copper-coated tungsten powder and Zn powder was sintered by SPS (Spark Plasma Sintering) process. For the second method, the mixed powder was processed by CIP (Cold Isostatic Pressing) before SPS. For the third method, a skeleton of the copper-coated tungsten powder was prepared by CIP, and then the skeleton was infiltrated with H70 brass. The microstructure, mechanical properties and failure mechanism of the prepared W-Cu-Zn alloys were investigated. The results show that the W-Cu-Zn alloy fabricated by the third method achieves a high relative density of 98.4% and a low W-W contiguity of 10%. The alloy exhibits a high dynamic compressive strength of 1000MPa, with a high critical failure strain of 0.7. The Cu-Zn matrix of the alloy fabricated by the third method is composed of α-phase Cu-Zn alloy and Cu₃Zn particles. The homogeneous distribution of Zn in the matrix manifests good solution strengthening effect and the uniformly distributed Cu₃Zn particles has a strong precipitation strengthening effect, which are both responsible for the evidently enhanced mechanical properties.